Comments on: Andrew McDermott – How To Loosen Up https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/10/andrew-mcdermott-how-to-loosen-up/ Info, opinion, and training on how to pastel with artist Gail Sibley BFA, MA Mon, 13 Nov 2023 18:52:02 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 By: Gail Sibley https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/10/andrew-mcdermott-how-to-loosen-up/#comment-54926 Mon, 13 Nov 2023 18:52:02 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28548#comment-54926 In reply to Melanie Opperman.

Many tanks Melanie for sharing your reaction to Andrew’s guest post as well as your own art journey so far and your hope to implement Andrew’s colour blocking ideas!

Go live the dream again!

]]> By: Gail Sibley https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/10/andrew-mcdermott-how-to-loosen-up/#comment-54887 Sun, 12 Nov 2023 03:10:47 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28548#comment-54887 ]]> In reply to Joseph A Porretta.

Hi Joseph, thank you so much for your lovely appreciative comment! I’m sure Andrew will love hearing it too 😁

]]> By: Gail Sibley https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/10/andrew-mcdermott-how-to-loosen-up/#comment-54643 Sat, 28 Oct 2023 01:02:57 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28548#comment-54643 In reply to Mary Hopkins.

I also LOVED his demo Mary. I hope Ruth can find and share that video!

]]> By: Melanie Opperman https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/10/andrew-mcdermott-how-to-loosen-up/#comment-54505 Thu, 19 Oct 2023 22:12:20 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28548#comment-54505 First attempt in progress
I can see that working from a photo is more challenging for a looser style due to the static pose. So I can feel the desire to follow up with a more detailed portrait is near the surface but enjoying the process immensely. Thank you Andrew McDermott.

]]> By: Mary Hopkins https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/10/andrew-mcdermott-how-to-loosen-up/#comment-54434 Tue, 17 Oct 2023 05:34:31 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28548#comment-54434 I’m so happy you did an interview with Andrew McDermott! His demo on Pastel Live was probably one of my favorites. I would really love to see the video that Ruth mentioned too. Thank you so much for this great interview.

]]> By: Melanie Opperman https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/10/andrew-mcdermott-how-to-loosen-up/#comment-54430 Tue, 17 Oct 2023 01:13:32 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28548#comment-54430 In reply to Gail Sibley.

Thank you so much Gail for hosting Andrew McDermott on How to Pastel.

And Thank you Andrew- this is just what the Dr ordered.

I’ve always been detailed and sensitive in drawing and skumbling loosely when painting. With pastels I’m still finding my feet and leaning more towards painfully careful painting. Painting fairly quickly from life during then31 day challenge has been good for me.

Point two- colour blocking – I have to try that (I say as I complete a line drawing for my current painting #1 of a series. I’ll try working without a line drawing for my second attempt.)
I’ve seen people using this method for painting in oils and I’ve been wondering if it would work with soft pastels. Face palm – why didn’t I just give it a go? I have done colour blocking with a loose sketch but not totally line free.

Looking forward to allowing my next painting to emerge naturally.

Thank you Andrew.
Every morning the first thing I see is the (print) painting of a flamenco dancer that gave me the dream to paint when I was a toddler. it is bright bold and expressive. I need to live the dream again.

]]> By: Joseph A Porretta https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/10/andrew-mcdermott-how-to-loosen-up/#comment-54421 Mon, 16 Oct 2023 19:40:38 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28548#comment-54421 I am an 80 year old lifelong engineer mentally and love to do detailed and “tight” charcoal figure drawings in my retirement. I am captivated by pastel
(I don’t like to paint per se) figure and landscape drawing and trying my hardest not to be so tight and overly detailed. I have viewed many, many tutorials and /or articles for help to no avail. Most of these just demo and do not provide a way of thinking. THANK YOU! This blog is most helpful and just what I need to start my new journey into pastels.

]]> By: Gail Sibley https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/10/andrew-mcdermott-how-to-loosen-up/#comment-54352 Sat, 14 Oct 2023 23:44:30 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28548#comment-54352 In reply to Mary Orr.

Yes – that gorgeous colour for the underpainting!!
It’s interesting about the texturing. It’s easy to do in paint but because there is less coverage by pastel. one might not think of using the same tools. And yet, Andrew makes it work! I am keen to give it a go too Mary!

]]> By: Gail Sibley https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/10/andrew-mcdermott-how-to-loosen-up/#comment-54339 Sat, 14 Oct 2023 18:27:39 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28548#comment-54339 In reply to Ruth Burley.

Agreed – about him making it look easy, about his fabulous marks, about paintings full of like and action! I’m curious about the video you saw Ruth. If you still have the link, feel free to add it here.

]]> By: Gail Sibley https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/10/andrew-mcdermott-how-to-loosen-up/#comment-54338 Sat, 14 Oct 2023 18:26:16 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28548#comment-54338 In reply to Morag Burton.

Whoo hoo!! That’s so awesome to hear Morag!

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